The tech-rich index benefited from a big jump in Apple shares, which rose more than eight per cent on earnings that beat Wall Street expectation.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.84 (0.01 per cent) to 16,502.49, while the S&P 500 advanced 3.28 (0.17 per cent) to 1,878.67.

Investors were unnerved on Thursday after Russia ordered new military exercises on the border of Ukraine and warned of "consequences" after Kiev launched a deadly assault against pro-Kremlin rebels occupying a flashpoint town.

LONDON - European stock markets closed on an upbeat note as traders reacted to a string of earnings updates, data pointing to further easing of eurozone economic strains, and fresh takeover speculation.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index ended the day 0.42 per cent up at 6,703 points.

Germany's DAX 30 closed slightly up 0.05 per cent at 9.548.68 points, with data revealing that German business confidence rebounded this month, after a slight fall in March in Europe's biggest economy when companies worried about the Crimea crisis.

In Paris, the CAC-40 rose 0.64 per cent to 4,479.54 points.

And in Madrid, the IBEX 35 gained 0.36 per cent to 10,462 points after Spain's central bank said the country's economy grew at the fastest pace for six years in the first quarter of 2014.

The euro eased to $US1.3791 from $US1.3816 late in New York on Wednesday.

HONG KONG - Asian markets ended mixed with Japanese traders disappointed by the lack of progress on a stalled Pacific trade pact as US President Barack Obama visits Japan.

Tokyo, which rose more than one per cent on Wednesday, dropped 0.97 per cent, or 141.28 points, to 14,404.99 and Seoul lost 0.10 per cent, or 2.03 points, to end at 1,998.34. Sydney closed slightly higher, adding 0.24 per cent or 13.2 points to 5,531.0.

Shanghai fell 0.50 per cent, or 10.35 points, to 2,057.03 and Hong Kong rose 0.24 per cent, or 53.16 points, to 22,562.80.